By so doing, Mr Mkapa hinted that the country will be in a better position to find solutions to various problems and make the right decisions.
The former head of state said in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that the freedom of speech and expression should be used to make analyses, insisting that the opportunity should be utilised to discuss policies and not people.
He was responding to a question on the current state of freedom of speech and expression during the opening of the eighth Mwalimu Nyerere Intellectual Festival organised by the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM).
Speaking on Mwalimu Nyerere, Mr Mkapa said the challenge to African leadership is to embrace what Mwalimu largely fought for -- nationalism, justice and equity.
“The real challenge to us is to read more, contemplate deeply and to translate its principles (Mwalimu’s people’s centred development vision) into our changing times,” said the former head of state while delivering his keynote speech at the event.
UDSM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala, said the festival was the vital platform to take a critical look at Mwalimu’s philosophical inclinations, policy initiatives and practical attempts to bring about a people-centred development.
“We shall re-visit his principal concerns and aspirations as an intellectual and statesman, which include building of an egalitarian and self-reliant society,” said the UDSM Vice-Chancellor.
Prof Mukandala pointed out that the focus of this year’s festival is on Mwalimu Nyerere’s key action points as he grappled with the challenges of improving the well-being of humanity.
According to Mwalimu Nyerere Professorial Chair in Pan African Studies, Professor Penina Mlama, this year’s festival is devoted to Mwalimu Nyerere, the main goal being to create a deeper understanding of who Mwalimu Nyerere was.
“The festival will also critically interrogate and highlight the challenges faced in Mwalimu’s effort to attain people-centred development,” she said.
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